12 Stovetop Chicken Dinners That Take 30 Minutes or Less

Eaten simple or dressed up, hot or cold, in sandwiches or salads, chicken is one of those things that's pretty perfect all year long. Ovens, on the other hand, are not. In the thick of the summer heat, firing up the oven to roast a quick chicken breast just isn't worth heating your whole house (or, worse, one-bedroom apartment). And this does pose a dilemma, because even though chicken is endlessly versatile, it does have one requirement: It has to be cooked all the way through.

Thankfully, you can have your chicken and eat it too— without paying a sweaty price. When the weather's sweltering, give your oven a break and get familiar with some easy stovetop chicken recipes. Even though the stove doesn't always have the same set-it-and-forget-it convenience of an oven, there are plenty of simple, quick recipes to choose from.

I admit, oven-roasted chicken is my go-to, so straying from it can be intimidating. But these 12 recipes recipes are worth the payoff, as is investing in a cast-iron skillet to cook them in. And, as a bonus, each dish takes less than 30 minutes to make. Even when the temperatures do cool down, you'll probably want to keep them in the rotation.

In this bright dish, the rice cooks right alongside the chicken, so you've got a protein and a grain ready in one pan. Serve with a simple green salad for a perfectly balanced dinner. Get the recipe here.